Written by new-contact on Mar 3, 2010. Posted in Production News

Comparethemarket.com uses Finse in Norway for Siberia

Finse in south-west Norway has been used to double for Siberia in an advert for price comparison website Comparethemarket.com called Journey of Courageousness. The advert stars Aleksandr the meerkat as he tells the story of how his ancestors travelled from the Kalahari Desert all the way to Russia.

Budget constraints counted out the use of Siberia for London-based production company Passion Pictures. Finland and Lapland were considered before Finse was decided upon due to cheaper access costs. The production filmed in October and caught early snowfall, which suited their needs.

Russell McLean, a Producer with Passion Pictures, said: “There’s no road access to Finse but the town is the highest point on the Bergen to Oslo train line, so easily accessible. All equipment is freighted in by train, of which there are around four a day from Oslo and Bergen. If you’re looking for a frozen lake or a glacier, I’d highly recommend Finse.”

The production used a small crew provided by Alligator Film in Bergen and used skidoos and sleds to transport the equipment to the location for the day’s shooting. The two meerkat characters were then added in post-production.

Sigmund Elias Holm, Project Manager at the Western Norway Film Commission, said: “Our snow locations have doubled for Greenland, Siberia, Canada, the South Pole and the North Pole.”

Click here to view the ad.

Credits
Client: Comparethemarket.com
Agency: VCCP
Production Company: Passion Pictures
Production Service Company: Alligator Film
Producer: Russell McLean

Creative Directors: Darren Bailes, Steve Vranakis
Director: Darren Walsh
Director of Photography: Olivier Cariou